Labour has accused Reform UK of being “up to its neck in sleaze” and called on the Electoral Commission to urgently investigate substantial donations made to the party by the mother of a convicted fraudster. Bridget Phillipson, Labour’s new chair, urged the commission to examine whether any rules had been broken after the Guardian revealed that George Cottrell transferred more than $2m to his mother in the days before her donations to Reform in 2024.
Revelations of financial transfers
The Guardian reported that Cottrell’s mother, Fiona Cottrell, received several tranches of money totalling over $2m, which she attributed to her son, according to financial industry sources. George Cottrell is a close ally and adviser to Nigel Farage. The transfers were then made either directly to Reform or via Britain Means Business, a fundraising vehicle for the party.
In her letter, Phillipson said the new revelations “may be relevant to the question of whether the true source of political donations made to Reform UK has been correctly identified and whether the statutory requirements governing permissible donors have been complied with”.
Labour's demand for investigation
A Labour spokesperson said it was time for Reform to address the allegations seriously. “If these latest claims about George Cottrell are true, Reform may have taken money from a convicted fraudster who was the ultimate source of the donations,” the party said. “That would mean Reform accepted his money even though he has never shown he was legally allowed to donate to a political party at the time.”
The Electoral Commission has already made a referral to the Metropolitan police, who are investigating whether Reform may have been concealing or disguising donations from an “impermissible” donor.
Reform's response
At a press conference on Thursday, Reform’s economics spokesperson, Robert Jenrick, ducked specific questions about the donations. He told the BBC: “We are entirely confident that Reform followed all electoral rules at the time when the donations were made. Of course, we’ll participate with any inquiries. To the best of my knowledge, we haven’t even been contacted by the police, so I don’t think we have anything more to add to that.”
Jenrick suggested journalists should question George Cottrell directly and said the press conference was meant to focus on social care. “Reform is certain that all the electoral rules were followed,” he told ITV. “If you’ve got a question for Mr Cottrell then I think you have to direct that to him.”
Background on George Cottrell
Cottrell, who was convicted for fraud in the US, now lives in Montenegro but is often seen alongside Farage. He has been described as Farage’s chief of staff, but Reform maintains he is only a volunteer. Lawyers for Cottrell said their client had no further comment. In previous legal correspondence, Cottrell did not deny giving his mother large sums of money, stating via lawyers that “any political donations his mother has made have been entirely her own decision, and are a matter for her”. Fiona Cottrell has not responded to several attempts by the Guardian to contact her.
Ongoing investigations
The Met’s investigation is examining donations to Reform, including those from Britain Means Business, whose director is the party’s deputy leader, Richard Tice. The firm gave Reform two donations of £250,000 in the run-up to the 2024 general election, first revealed by the Guardian. A Reform spokesperson said: “Reform takes pride in its stringent vetting of donations and always ensures that the Electoral Commission guidelines on donations, as set out in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, are strictly followed, as has been the case with all donations.”
Farage is currently fighting a byelection after resigning his seat of Clacton. All other mainstream parties have declined to stand a candidate against him, though there are 34 independents on the ballot, including novelty candidates such as Count Binface.
